With Allies Like These

Our relationship with the United Nations is, to put it mildly, complicated (to use the Facebook term). We go from being their whipping boy to being the ones to bail them out of situations they get into. In short, they’re our little brothers.

For years, people from across the right side of the aisle (including your humble correspondent) have asked why we’re still in the UN. The Left, of course, disagrees, saying our involvement in the UN is necessary for world peace. (Actual results may vary.) Frankly, I think the Left wants us to stay in the UN because their approach to American diplomacy is always having to say we’re sorry.

Enter President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. It started with President Trump officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel. You would think he put a puppy through a chipper shredder the way the Left reacted. The UN, being the masters of leading from behind, then had its Security Council vote on a resolution reversing the President’s decision.

Okay, take a moment to let that sink in. The United Nations, an international group with only the power we allow it to have and with zero power in our government, thought it could pass a resolution and reverse a US President’s decision, one that has been previously supported by our legislative body as late as last year. Yeah, that’s not how it works. Pass all the resolutions you want. You may convince the Leftist muttonheads, but you’ll turn off those of us who bother to pay attention.

Trump and Haley doubled down on their decision, stating they would be taking names of those who came out against us on this issue. As you might expect, there are already countries lining up to be first on the list because they think we’re being disrespectful. Then, there was the recent vote by the UN General Assembly approving a resolution declaring President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capitol. It wasn’t even close. The vote in favor of the resolution was 128 in favor, 9 against, and 35 abstentions. And the Left and the majority of the world cheered in victory, having put America and Donald Trump in their places (at least in their minds).

Yeah, you might want to rethink that vote.

First of all, we pay 22% of the UN’s budget through our dues and 28% of the UN budget to keep the peace around the world, as of 2015. And as we see in the Middle East, the UN is doing a bang-up job of peacekeeping. If we withdraw from the UN, that money goes away, and the other UN countries will have to make up the difference. That means you have to decide between having hurt fee-fees and having less in your government coffers. Let’s just say the prospect of losing a significant chunk of money might just buy these countries a thicker skin.

Along with the financial burden that will face the UN if we leave, there will also be a military burden. After all, we supply a lot of military personnel and hardware so the UN can fail worse than the Cleveland Browns. If the US leaves the UN, that would leave the peacekeeping efforts to the military power that is France.

I’ll give you the next hour or so to stop laughing before you continue reading.

Perhaps the best reason for the US to leave the UN is the fact one of these parties has a lousy track record with human rights, sexual assault, hatred and racism, and rampant corruption. And the other is the United States. Granted, we can do better, but the UN is the platinum standard of cruddiness, and they have no intention of getting better. The Left says our world reputation will be ruined if we leave the UN, but I would argue it would be worse if we stay.

Trump and Haley’s position may not be the most popular with some Americans, but it is ultimately the right decision. We need to get out of the UN because they don’t appreciate what we bring to the table. In this case, our absence will make the UN’s heart grow fonder.